USL Standouts Set for Concacaf Gold Cup

Twenty-six players from Championship, League One named to tournament’s official rosters

Phoenix Rising FC's Kevon Lambert, Louisville City FC's Devon "Speedy" Williams and El Paso Locomotive FC's Mechack Jerome are among the 26 players selected by their countries to the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup from the USL Championship and USL League One.

TAMPA, Fla. – The USL will have the largest representation in its history at the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup this summer with 26 players that have competed this season in the USL Championship and USL League One selected to represent their countries when the tournament kicks off on Saturday, June 15.

The representation marks almost a five-fold increase from the 2017 edition of the tournament, when six USL Championship players saw action in the bi-annual event. In all, fifteen Championship clubs will be represented at this year’s Gold Cup, as well as an additional three from League One.

“We are extremely proud of the players who have earned this opportunity to compete on the international stage at our region’s most important event,” said USL President Jake Edwards. “The increase in representation both in number of players selected and the wide range of teams they compete for in our professional leagues is indicative of the fast-rising level of competition and quality that can be found in the USL as a whole.”

OKC Energy FC leads all Championship clubs with four players earning selection. Defenders Alvin Jones and Mekeil Williams and forward Cordell Cato will represent Trinidad & Tobago – which has been drawn in the same group as the United States – while Je-Vaughn Watson was named to the Jamaica squad.

An additional five clubs had two players selected apiece, including both of last season’s participants in the USL Cup. Louisville City FC’s Shaun Francis and Devon “Speedy” Williams will team up with Phoenix Rising FC’s Junior Flemmings and Kevon Lambert in Jamaica’s squad as the Reggae Boyz look to make a third consecutive run to the final of the tournament.

Elsewhere, the Charleston Battery will be represented by Zeiko Lewis of Bermuda and Leland Archer of Trinidad & Tobago, the Charlotte Independence by Michael Maria of Curacao and Kevan George of Trinidad & Tobago and Memphis 901 FC by the Trinidad & Tobago duo of Leston Paul and Duane Muckette.

In addition to the current players selected from the Championship and League One, a number of USL alumni will also feature at the tournament, including former USL Cup-winners Tyler Adams and Aaron Long for the United States, 2018 USL Championship Goalkeeper of the Year Maxime Crepeau, USL Cup-winner Mark-Anthony Kaye and youngest goalscorer in USL Championship history Alphonso Davies for Canada and two-time USL Championship Most Valuable Player Kevin Molino and USL Cup-winner Greg Ranjitsingh for Trinidad & Tobago.